Local firm backs John Andretti at Indy

By Ron Kantowski

Monday, May 26, 2008 | 12:39 a.m.

NOW

--- With most of the open-wheel drivers with Southern Nevada ties having retired, lost their rides or now spinning their wheels in NASCAR, there were fewer local stories than usual in the 92nd running of the fabled Indianapolis 500. But 1-800-Las-Vegas jumped on board as the primary sponsor on John Andretti's car, who finished 16th, one lap down, after starting 21st in the 33-car field. Next to cousin Marco Andretti's Indiana Jones-style coveralls, John Andretti might have had the coolest-looking firesuit at the Brickyard Sunday -- it featured a variation of the famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas marquee which either lit up or appeared to light up when the sun hit it.

--- Oriol Servia of Spain drove a car co-owned by longtime Las Vegas resident and former Indy 500 competitor Jimmy Vasser to an 11th-place finish after starting the race in Lafayette (actually, 25th on the grid). It was the best finish by one of the "transitional" teams that joined the Indy Racing League from the Champ Car series following the unification of open-wheel racing in February.

--- Davey Hamilton, who used to race out of Las Vegas before suffering terrible injuries in a crash while driving a car owned by Henderson resident Sam Schmidt, finished in 14th place and also completed all 200 laps. I don't think he got mentioned once on ABC, which had 38 of its 39 cameras focused on Danica Patrick's car and the other one trained on the pits, just in case A.J. Foyt threw his laptop computer when his driver or a crew member made a mistake.

--- After Scott Dixon won the Indy 500, I caught the start of the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR's longest race. I'll say. I mowed the lawn, drove to town to pick up my brother and his girlfriend at Caesars Palace, drove back to Henderson, grilled hamburgers, drove my bro back to Caesars, drove back to Henderson, watched the replay of the Cubs-Pirates game, helped my wife put away the dishes -- and still caught the last 45 laps of the Coke 600.

THEN

--- This year's Indy 500 marked 35 years since the first time I witnessed the race in person. Rest in peace, Swede Savage. You are still remembered.